Lamonte McLemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lamonte McLemore
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McLemore (top) with The 5th Dimension, 1971
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lamonte McLemore |
| Born | September 17, 1939 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Associated acts | The 5th Dimension |
Lamonte McLemore was born on September 17, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is an American singer, composer, and photographer. He is best known as a founding member of The 5th Dimension. This was a very popular singing group in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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Lamonte McLemore's Life
Lamonte McLemore has had an exciting life. He has explored many different talents. He has been a baseball player, a photographer, and a musician. In 2014, he wrote a book about his life. It was called From the Hobo Flats to The 5th Dimension.
Early Life and Baseball
Lamonte McLemore grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He loved baseball. He even tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals. This made him the first African American athlete to try out for the team. Later, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he played as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league team.
Photography Career
After high school, McLemore joined the United States Navy. He worked as an aerial photographer, taking pictures from planes. In 1958, he started his own photography business called Halmont Graphics. He was also the first African American photographer hired by Harper's Bazaar magazine.
McLemore took the photos for Stevie Wonder's first album cover. For over forty years, he has been a photographer for Jet and Ebony magazines. His photography also led him to music. He met Marilyn McCoo and Florence LaRue at a beauty pageant photo shoot. This meeting helped create The 5th Dimension.
Music and The 5th Dimension
Lamonte McLemore was a key part of The 5th Dimension. This group became famous for their pop and R&B songs. They had many hit songs. McLemore also helped write some of their songs. He co-wrote "A Love Like Ours" and "The Singer." These songs were recorded by The 5th Dimension.
